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Holmes Calendar
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Wednesday, 10/29 - Fall Festival, PTA Meeting 6:30-7:30PM
- Friday, 10/31 - 1st Quarter Ends / 2-Hour Early Release
- Monday, 11/3 - School Planning Day / NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, 11/4 - Teacher work Day / NO SCHOOL
- Monday, 11/10 - Updated Picture Retake Day
- Tuesday, 11/11 - Veteran's Day / NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, 11/26 - Friday, 11/28 - Thanksgiving / NO SCHOOL
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of the first quarter! As we head into the final week, please take a moment to check in with your child about any missing assignments and encourage them to communicate with their teachers if they need support. This is a great time to review grades together, celebrate progress, and help your student plan for a strong start to the next quarter. Ensuring your child is getting enough rest and maintaining good routines will also make a big difference as we finish out the week.
We’re also excited to kick off our first Spirit Week of the year!
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Monday (10/27): Pajama Day
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Tuesday (10/28): Rhyme Without Reason
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Wednesday (10/29): Jersey Day
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Thursday (10/30): Adam Sandler Day
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Friday (10/31): Costume/Character Day
For Costume/Character Day, students may dress up as their favorite school-appropriate character or in festive attire. The costume must be school appropriate and follow the SR&R dress code. Students faces must be visible, and accessories that appear to resemble weapons should remain at home.
We can’t wait to see our students show their school spirit and finish the quarter strong!
Additionally, we wanted to make you aware of a new TikTok trend that involves damaging school property. It’s called the Paper Dart or Paper Plane challenge. Students fold sticky notes or pieces of paper into small darts, sometimes with a thumb tack or sharp piece of metal, and throw them at the ceiling in hopes that they stick.
Damaging school property is a violation of the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) and carries serious consequences. In some instances, students and families may even be required to pay for repairs to damaged property. The darts, especially those with metal tips, present a serious safety concern for schools and could be used as a weapon, which is also a violation of the SR&R that could even lead to criminal charges.
As a partner in your child’s education, we encourage you to be aware of your child’s online actions, including who your children are interacting with and what they are sharing on social media. It is also important to have an open conversation about making safe and smart choices online, and how those decisions can have real world impacts. Some helpful resources you can use include the FCPS Guidance for Technology Use and Digital Citizenship Resources for Families.
We ask for your help in reminding students about their responsibilities and expectations as a Hawk and reinforcing with them why damaging school property is not acceptable.
Thank you,
Serena Giron
Principal
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
With the first quarter of the school year ending on Friday, October 31, families can expect student report cards to be available the week of November 10.
FCPS has revised the way teachers provide feedback on report cards, so you may notice some new comments. Specifically, comments have been revised to provide more detailed feedback for students and families.
Also, teachers will now include a Work Habits mark each quarter for each student. This scale provides feedback on students’ time management, organization, assignment completion, and overall effort in class. This is meant as feedback to families and will not appear on a student’s transcript.
View the Middle and High School Grading and Reporting webpage for more information.
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey is given each fall to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. It provides information about a variety of topics related to our students that influence their physical and mental well-being, from sleep, physical activity, and nutritional habits to protective factors, substance use behaviors, and symptoms of depression.
The 2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be taken by students between Monday, November 10, and Friday, November 21. Parents and caregivers can opt their student out of participating in the survey if they so choose.
Visit the Fairfax County Youth Survey webpage for more information and to review the opt-out forms.
✨ Providing students with access to the necessary emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health services to support their successful engagement in school is part of the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
Eighth graders who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2030 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
The application has been available since Monday, October 20. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, with a submission deadline of 4 p.m. Friday, November 14. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information, including a schedule of upcoming information sessions at middle schools.
EDISON ACADEMY HAUNTED HOUSE
Where: EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
5801 Franconia Rd
Alexandria, VA
When: OCTOBER 29, 4-9PM
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK THROUGH DOOR 13
ADMISSION IS $1 PER PERSON
ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
Each year, FCPS is eligible to apply for Federal Impact Aid Grant funds. To ensure FCPS receives its fair share, we need your assistance in identifying students with federal connections. The Federal Impact Aid Survey will be available on SIS ParentVUE starting October 21st. We encourage you to complete the survey electronically.
If you have not yet set up your ParentVUE account and need help, please contact our Office Assistant, Aimee Moya at avmoyanina@fcps.edu or 703-658-5900.
For families without ParentVUE access, we will distribute paper copies of the survey in November. If you would like to learn more about it, please check the link below.
https://www.fcps.edu/impact
Helpful reminders:
If you forget your password:
- Go to https://sisparent.fcps.edu
- Click More Options > Forgot Password
- Follow the prompts—an email will be sent to your primary email
If you forget your username or need to update your email:
- Go to More Options > Change Username
- Enter current login info and the new email
- A confirmation will be emailed to complete the change
For more help, please call:
📞 Parent Tech Help Desk: 833-921-3277 (M–F, 7 AM–5 PM)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) invites all 5th–8th grade students to participate in their 13th Annual Invitational Science Fair this coming April 2026!
Participation is completely free, and students will have the opportunity to conduct a research project of their choice and present it in person at the fair.
To support students, TJ’s Investigative Science Outreach team will offer multiple preparation sessions covering topics such as:
- Brainstorming
- Designing experiments
- Collecting and analyzing data
- Scientific writing
- Presentation skills
🔗 Sign up here: tinyurl.com/TJISOinterest2526
For more information, visit: tjsciencefair.wordpress.com Questions? Email: tjhsstsciencefair@gmail.com
We hope to see your young scientist there!
All Day Absence:
- Use ParentVUE.Log in and click “Report Absence.” Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet? Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
OR
- Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and reason for absence.
OR
- Send an email to holmesmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and reason for absence.
Partial Absence:
To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance
- Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, and reason for late arrival or early dismissal.
OR
- Send an email to holmesmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and reason for late arrival or early dismissal.
To request a bus pass for your student, please email the front office at holmesmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu no later than 1:30 PM. Additionally, ensure front office has consent from the parent of the student to whose house your child will be traveling, as this is required for approval.
If you have to pick up your student early, we ask that you do so before 1:30PM to avoid interrupting safe dismissal process. Please note that doctor's appointments are not considered emergencies.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
After-School Program Updates & Highlights
This week,
students in our Stage Crew worked to build the set for our upcoming school musical, Shrek.
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Fall Festival
Our Fal Festival is back again this year. Any 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Holmes student is invited to join our Fall Festival during normal After-School Program hours this Wednesday, October 29th. There will be games, music, dancing, art, and snacks. Students must sign up online by Tuesday, October 28th to attend the festival. The link for students to sign up is here- https://forms.gle/b9yGe6ZMQFrkQNvEA
ASP Schedule 10/27-10/31
Want to learn more about the After-School Program and the activities & clubs that we offer?
Daily Student Sign-ups
- Students will sign-up in the cafeteria with Mr. Kruk on the day(s) in which they plan to stay after-school for any reason (activities, clubs, tutoring, auditions, sports, etc). Please be sure to communicate with your student ahead of time, as we do not provide families with notifications when your student completes the sign-up form and stays after school.
Transportation & Parent/Guardian Pickup.
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Bus Transportation (4:45 ONLY) - Students who regularly take a bus to and from school will be provided with an after-school late bus that will depart Holmes between 4:45-5:00pm. We ask for your patience the first few days of the program as the buses get comfortable with their routes and you may notice that your student is home a little later than anticipated. If you have any questions or concerns regarding transportation, feel free to reach out to the Transportation Office; 703-446-2000.
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Kiss & Ride - Students may be picked up anytime during the program. We prioritize SAFETY during our program thus, parent/guardian must come inside the building and sign out their student if being picked up before 4:45. Students must be picked up from the main office no later than 5:00pm. Students who are picked up after 5:00pm on more than one occasion are subject to losing their After-School Program privileges.
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Walkers . If you would like to have your student walk or bike home from the After-School Program, we require a one-time communication (email) stating that you give permission for your student to walk/bike home from the program this year.
Questions/Concerns?
Join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings (4th Wednesday of the month; translation services provided)
PTA Facebook
Join the PTA https://www.holmesmspta.com/
Purchase spirit wear https://www.spiritshop.com/school/virginia/alexandria/holmes-middle-school?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Calling all cooks! We are look for pasta dish/comfort food/hot dishes that feeds a minimum of 6-8 people. We are feeding over 130 teachers and staff members. Consider donating soups, salads, pasta, or rice dishes. Anything that reminds you of comfort food. November 3rd is a teacher work day and you can drop off all dishes to the front office between 10-11:30 sign up to prepare a lunch dish for our wonderful teachers and staff! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050444A9AA2DA64-59319967-fuel
Fall Festival takes place during the afterschool program. Kids will play games, do art, dance, watch movies, and have fun as we continue to kick off the school year. Volunteer to help out the day of or donate items (prizes, craft supplies, cupcakes, cookies, etc.) for the fun event here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050444A9AA2DA64-59343976-fall Donate from our Amazon Wishlist: https://a.co/gDku4sB
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Immunization clinics will take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Willow Oaks Administrative Center on:
- Thursday, November 6
- Tuesday, November 18
- Wednesday, November 19
- Thursday, November 20
A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year.
Participation is voluntary. Parents or guardians may schedule an appointment for their student. Learn more about immunization resources.
Each year, the School Board and FCPS staff members work with the community to develop an updated, five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for school building and renovation projects. To develop the CIP, the school system assesses changes in expected enrollments, academic programs, and facility conditions to determine priorities for new construction, renovations, and other capital facility projects. The School Board then evaluates the affordability of these school needs against other countywide requirements to determine the bond proposal.
Because of this, while FCPS and the School Board generally try to follow the CIP, changes can be made year-over-year depending on the evolving needs of the school division.
The School Board is committed to protecting the community’s investment in schools and other buildings, which have a combined present value approaching $9 billion. Not only do these facilities wear out over time, but they also become outdated, both technologically and instructionally. FCPS renovates its schools to ensure that students, countywide, have effective and efficient learning environments to thrive and grow.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a voting plan and vote on Tuesday, November 4.
- Monday, October 27, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Irving Middle School, (Lake Braddock and West Springfield Pyramids) in person or virtual
- Tuesday, October 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Fairfax High School, Library (Woodson and Fairfax Pyramids) in person or virtual
- Wednesday, October 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at McLean High School, (Madison and McLean Pyramids) in person or virtual
- Thursday, October 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Chantilly High School, (Westfield and Chantilly Pyramids) in person or virtual
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
i9 Sports is now accepting registrations for their 2026 Winter and Spring youth sports programs in the following locations:
- Springfield
- Burke
- Alexandria
- Centreville
This program is open to boys and girls ages 3–14, and offers age-appropriate instruction across multiple sports, including:
- Flag Football
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Baseball
- ZIP Cheer
- Volleyball
🗓 Important Dates:
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$20 Early Registration Discount if you sign up by November 9, 2025
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Final Registration Deadline: December 14, 2025
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Winter Season Begins: January 11, 2026
Why Choose i9 Sports?
- All skill levels welcome – no tryouts required
- One day per week (practice + game)
- Certified, background-checked coaches
- Focus on fun, teamwork, and skill-building
🔗 Register today at i9sports.com 📞 Or call: (703) 740-0093 📲 Follow on social: Facebook & Instagram: @i9sports101
Note: These programs are not sponsored or endorsed by Fairfax County Public Schools or this school.
Stay connected with Holmes Middle School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and be part of our vibrant community. Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, you'll find exciting updates, important announcements, and inspiring stories that showcase the spirit of Holmes!
Links: Instagram
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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